Corney storm alert at Oldham

OLDHAM supremo Simon Corney has labelled Wednesday night's 0-0 bore draw with Tranmere as the "worst performance I have ever seen". And the managing director admits he now has "genuine fears" that the club may end up in a relegation scrap, although adding that he still had confidence in under-fire manager Dave Penney. After a woeful run of one win in the last ten league games the Latics sit uncomfortably in League One's final relegation slot.

And the managing director admits he now has "genuine fears" that the club may end up in a relegation scrap, although adding that he still had confidence in under-fire manager Dave Penney.

After a woeful run of one win in the last ten league games the Latics sit uncomfortably in League One's final relegation slot.

They have scored fewer goals (20) than anyone else in the division and face a crunch week with Millwall and Brentford visiting within seven days.

Wednesday's stalemate, in front of a paltry 3,688, was greeted with a chorus of boos at the final whistle while ironic cheers rang out from the hardy few when the home side mustered their first shot after half an hour.

Corney, one of three US-based businessmen who took over the club almost six years ago, says he shared the fans' pain.

"It was awful," he said. "I feel awful. That was the worst I have ever seen since we came here and I never thought this would happen but I am nervous about relegation now."

He also urged the players to "get their act together" before it is too late.

Immense

"With the exception of Sean Gregan, who has been immense this season, and Reuben Hazell, I can't praise any of them," he said. "On Wednesday we had things like five-yard passes going wrong and you have to ask where the urgency was.

"Where was the quality? A lot of these players were here last season and that didn't happen.

"Some of them need to realise that if they don't get their act together they will be playing in League Two."

Corney dismissed claims that Penney, brought in from Darlington at the end of last season, was working on a smaller budget than his predecessor, John Sheridan. He said: "I can categorically say that, given the money we've spent on players this season, it's higher. There are teams with bigger budgets in the division, but it's certainly not a bottom-four budget."

But Corney believes Penney can still drag the club out of the mire, saying: "I still have confidence in Dave and he still has my support. He's a decent, hard-working guy and I think he can turn it around. But it needs to happen soon."